France, modern period in the Gothic style - Lot 3

France, modern period in the Gothic style Head of Saint Louis Limestone H. 26.5 cm, and base H. 14 cm Damage and wear Provenance: Edouard Larcade collection, by descent Related literature Jean-Marie Cusinberche, La France de Mathieu, cat. exp. Les Galeries de St-Germain, September 26-November 5, 1994, Axiom graphic Imprimeur, 1994, s. p. In 1954, Jean Larcade, the renowned art dealer and founder of the Rive Droite gallery, a pioneer in the promotion of the Nouveaux Réalistes, welcomed the celebrated painter Georges Mathieu to his château in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Mathieu, founder of the Abstraction Lyrique movement, created one of his most important paintings here, Les Capétiens Partout! After dedicating his paintings to Louis XI in 1950 and Philippe III le Hardi in 1952, Georges Matthieu became fascinated by the figure and exploits of Hugues Capet. The discovery of Jean Larcade's private collection, consisting mainly of precious medieval artefacts as well as Chinese porcelain and Egyptian antiquities, was a real revelation for the ar- tist. More than a showcase for the collector's treasures, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, from which our Tête dite de Saint-Louis comes, became a place of inspiration, creation and exhibition. A photograph of Georges Mathieu in front of this head, "an unexpected, unhoped-for confrontation [which] was a real shock", illustrates the catalog of the exhibition La France de Mathieu presented by Jean-Marie Cusinberche in 1994.